antiTainment
NEWS: Howard Stern Earns Clear Channel $495K In Fines

04-07-04
Keavin.

Did they pull the plug too late? After all
the controversy surrounding Clear Channelís decision to pull Howard Stern
off the air over decency concerns, they still got hit with a big fine Ė
over a show that aired over a year ago. Federal Communications Commission
plans to hit Clear Channel Communications with a $495,000 fine over alleged
indecency on the Howard Stern Show.

The FCC said on Thursday that they will
fine six Clear Channel Communications owned radio stations over 18 alleged
violations of broadcast decency standards. The alleged violations occurred
on Sternís April 9, 2003 program. The fines will be imposed for two separate
violations that occurred during the broadcast.

The FCC plans to hit six Clear Channel
stations with the maximum fine of $27,500 for each violation: WBGG in Fort
Lauderdale- WTKS-FM in Cocoa Beach, Fl-WTFX-FM in Louisville, Ky- KIOZ in San
Diego, Ca- WNVE in Honeoye Falls, N.Y.- WSDS-FM in Pittsburgh.

In February, Clear Channel pulled Stern
off their six stations that carried his program. Since the Janet Jackson
Super Bowl incident the Feds have put increased pressure on broadcasters
over adhering to decency standards. According to Reuters, Clear Channel
Radio president John Hogan said that Stern was a liability to broadcasters.
"The Congress and the FCC are even beginning to look at revoking station
licenses. That's a risk we're just not willing to take."

Stern commented about the fines on his
website. "It is pretty shocking that governmental interference into our
rights and free speech takes place in the U.S.," Stern wrote on his website.
"It's hard to reconcile this with the 'land of the free' and the 'home
of the brave."'